Rinu back on Facebook, gets direct entry into college

Refusing to be cowed down by self-proclaimed censors, Rinu Srinivasan has reactivated her facebook account.

MUMBAI/KOCHI: Refusing to be cowed down by self-proclaimed censors, Rinu Srinivasan has reactivated her facebook account. The plucky 21-year-old is also looking forward to studying sound engineering in a Chennai institute which rolled out the red carpet for her, admitting her to the course without a mandatory interview

A friend of Shaheen Dhada, Rinu was dragged into the facebook controversy for 'sharing' the comment Shaheen posted on November 18, the day late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray was cremated at Shivaji Park. Rinu was called with Shaheen by Palghar police on Sunday night to present herself at the police station and tender an apology.

The science graduate was worried the controversy, and the bail conditions which restricted her movement out of the city, would affect her future as she couldn't travel to Chennai for the admission interview. However, Rinu's brother Rahul said the Muzik Lounge School of Audio Technology, Chennai, where she had applied for a two-year course in sound engineering days before the incident, decided to exempt her from the interview process. "The college has decided to admit her without an interview. She will join college in January," Rahul said.

Moreover, Rinu updated her facebook cover photo on Monday. "Rinu is back on Facebook. She reactivated her account two days back and was touched by the immense support she received from her facebook friends. Though hesitant at first, she has now started responding to messages from close friends," Rahul told TOI.

"My sister is not comfortable talking about the incident. We want to avoid any more trouble. Though she had not done anything illegal or derogatory, she was made to feel like a criminal," said Rahul, whose family originally hails from Kumarakom, in Kerala.

However, the family gave a thumbs-up to the local police who were pilloried for the incident. "We have no complaints against the police. The girls had to be detained by the police as there was a nearly 5,000-strong mob outside Palghar police station. It was done to ensure their safety and the police have been decent with the girls throughout the entire episode," said Rahul.

Rinu also approached the Palghar court on Tuesday to seek exemption from the weekly police station appearances. The bail conditions required both Rinu and Shaheen to report to the Palghar police station every Wednesday. The matter is likely to be heard on Thursday as the courts are closed on Wednesday on account of Guru Nanak Jayanti. Shaheen's family has also approached the court for exemption from appearing every week in the police station.